EPYC 7303 vs Xeon Gold 6238
EPYC 7303
Xeon Gold 6238
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7303
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6238
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Milan (2021−2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7303 and Xeon Gold 6238
EPYC 7303
The EPYC 7303 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 28,572 points. Launch price was $604.
Xeon Gold 6238
The Xeon Gold 6238 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 30.25 MB. L2 cache: 22 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 29,118 points. Launch price was $2,612.
Processing Power
The EPYC 7303 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6238 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon Gold 6238 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6238 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6238 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The EPYC 7303 uses the Milan (2021−2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7303 scores 28,572 against the Xeon Gold 6238's 29,118 — a 1.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6238. L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 7303 vs 30.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 6238.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 22 / 44+38% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+14% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total)+112% | 30.25 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 22 MB+4300% |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Milan (2021−2023) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 28,572 | 29,118+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,960 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7303 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 6238 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7303 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6238 — the Xeon Gold 6238 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6238 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 204 GB — 133.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6238). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6238) — the EPYC 7303 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 platform (EPYC 7303) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6238).
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | 2933+73225% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 204 GB+20889500% | 1024 |
| RAM Channels | 8+33% | 6 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+167% | 48 |
Advanced Features
Only the EPYC 7303 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon Gold 6238 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SVM (EPYC 7303) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6238). Primary use case: EPYC 7303 targets High-frequency Server Workloads. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303 rivals Xeon Gold 6334; Xeon Gold 6238 rivals EPYC 7402.
| Feature | EPYC 7303 | Xeon Gold 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SVM | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | High-frequency Server Workloads | — |
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